Contour meter and reverser



A. WOLFF CONTOUR METER AND REVERSER Filed Jan. 10, 1941 31mm 19 Alolj wa Patented Dec. 16,1941

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I v COltTTOUR REVERSED v I Adolf Wolff, New York, N. Y. Application January 10, 1941, Serial No. 314,913

, Claims.

The object ofmy invention is to provide an improved contourmeter and reverser for use by artists, sculptors, draftsmen and others, whereby accurate measurements of contours and other outlines, profiles, reliefs, recesses and the like can be readily and accurately obtained without the use of rulers, squares, calipers and other dlawing and measuring instruments, which are ordnarily needed to detail the outlines required.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device of this character which will assist artists in reproducing identical objects which are to be carved or painted facing in opposite directions, which is often true in the case of figures of animals and the like intended for placement facing in opposite directions. Symmetry in reverse positions is in such circumstances essential. Much difliculty has heretofore been encountered in reversing the outlines of objects to accomplish the desired reversal of position. With applicants device, the contour or outline may be faced in the opposite position merely by placing the device backward and tracing the outline in the consequent reverse position.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device which will retain the measuring elements in spaced relation and readily slidable, except when clamped in a fixed position, which is done when the outline has been secured.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device the principal parts of which can be stamped out of sheet metal and which can be made of light-weight metal or plastic composition.

It is another object of my invention to provide a contourmeter designed inexpensively so as to be within the price range of drawing instruments for use by children, or which may be embodied in toys to encourage drawing.

I attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accom panying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention with a. portion broken away to show the interior construction;

frame 9. At each end of outer frame I are reenforcing ribs 2 to strengthen the frame at the point where the clamping wing nuts 11 are positioned. The outer frame I has a cut out central portion 3 and measuring indlcia l which may be disposed either along two edges or along all four edges. The outer frame also has apertures I for the thumb screws II, and rivet slots 6 for rivets II which hold the outer frame I and inner frame 9 in a permanently connected but adjustable relation. The outer frame I also has measuring rod apertures l, as shown in Fig. 3 in which the measuring rods I are loosely or slidably mounted.

The inner frame 0 has spaced slots It to receive the measuring rods 8, as shown in the broken away portion of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the inner frame 8 has reenforclng ribs Ill corresponding to ribs 2 of outer frame I and has a cut out central portion II corresponding to the cut out center 3 of outer frame I. In ribs I0 of inner frame 9 are apertures l2 for the thumb screws I5. Thumb screws I5 have a squared end on' the bolt so that it will not rotate when the thumb nut is turned.

I provide expansion coil springs I6 placed around the thumb screws I5 and which automatically cause the outer and inner frames to expand or move away from each other when the thumb nuts I1 are loosened.

Measuring rods I are slidably mounted in spaced slots Il in inner frame 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The measuring rods 8 each have ahead I9 secured at each end to prevent them from sliding out entirely from the frames I and 9 in either direction.

In use, the thumb nuts I! are loosened and the springs I6 expand the outer frame 'I and inner frame 9 away from each other, thereby permitting the measuring rods 8 to rest loosely slidable in apertures I of the outer frame I so that when As the measuring rods rest in the spaced slots ll of the inner frame 9, they are always retained in properly spaced relation to each other.

By pressing the frames together by means of the thumb or clamp screws, the measuring rods one each at the top and one each at the bottom of the frames, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The coil springs l6 tend to automatically expand the outer and inner frames away from each other when the thumb nuts are released.

The maximum degree of the open position of the frames is fixed by the rods or rivets I8, which are permanently secured across the upper and 'lower ends of the frames, said rods passing through slots 6 of the outer: and inner frames. Slots 8 permit the frames to move apart without completely separating.

The ribs 2 and I8 reenforce the frames at the points where pressure is applied by the thumb screws l5 and thumb nuts l1.

It is within the contemplation of my invention to make a device of this kind of any suitable material, preferably of light sheet-metal, or the front and back frame members may be made of a suitable plastic; in which event the entire frame may be molded in two pieces with all required reenforcing. The measuring rods 8 also may be made either of a light metal or thin tube or of a suitable plastic composition, and the rods are each provided with a removable head or bead H at each end, whereby a defective rod may readily be removed and replaced by another rod, as shown in Fig. 4.

For greater utility, the frame may be provided with suitable measurement markings 4 along one longitudinal edge and one transverse edge or around the entire frame, if desired.

While I have referred to the members 8 as measuring rods, it'is to be understood that this term is intended also to include a tubular element if it is desired to use tubes instead of rods in order to reduce weight.

What I claim is:

1. In a contourmeter and reverser, the combination of a box-like outer frame, a boxike inner frame telescopically seating in the outer frame. means at each end of the outer and inner frames adjustably securing said frames together, and spaced measuring rods slidably mounted in apertures in the outer frame and slidably seated in slots in the inner frame.

2. In a contourmeter and reverser, the combination of a box-like outer frame, a box-like inner frame telescopically seating 'in the outer frame, means at each end of the outer and inner frames adJustably securing said frames together, and spaced measuring rods slidably mounted in apertures in the outer frame and slidably seated in slots in the inner frame, the outer and inner frames having cut out central sections whereby to reduce their weight.

3. In a contourmeter and reverser, the combination of a box-like outer frame, a box-like inner I frame slidably seating in the outer frame, a thumb screw and thumb nut at each end of the outer and inner frames adjustably securing said frames together, and spaced" measuring rods slidably mounted in apertures in the outer frame and slidably seated in slots in the inner frame, and expansion coil springs mounted on the thumb screws and tending to press the outer and inner frames apart.

4. In a contourmeter and reverser, the combination of a box-like outer frame, a box-like inner frame telescopically seating in the outer frame, means at each end of the outer and inner frames adjustably securing said frames together, spaced measuring rods slidably mounted in apertures in the outer frame and slidably seated in slots in the inner frame, and means for preventing the outerand inner frames from separating entirely while permitting a limited expansion of one frame relative to another.

5. In a contourmeter and reverser, the combination of a box-like outer frame, a box-like irmer frame telescopically seating in the outer frame, means at each end of the outer and inner frames adjustably securing said frames together, and spaced measuring rods slidably mounted in the apertures in the outer frame and slidably seated in slots in the inner frame, one of said frames bearing measurement markings along one or more edges.

ADOLF WOLFF. 

